A distinguished professor at ISRO, Pillai also said the country would meet its energy requirements through Helium-3 mined from the moon, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"By 2030, this process target will be met," he said in a statement issued by think-tank Observer Research Foundation where Pillai delivering the valedictory address at the three-day Observer Research Foundation (ORF)-Kalpana Chawla Space Policy Dialogue yesterday.

He said other countries were also working on the project and there was enough helium on the moon, which can meet the energy requirements of the whole.

Pillai said mining lunar dust, which is rich in Helium-3, was a priority programme for ISRO.

Lt Gen PM Bali, director general of perspective planning, Indian Army, said the launch of GSAT-7, India's first dedicated military satellite, is a testimony to the country's outlook towards using the outer space for ensuring national security.

He noted that India possesses one of the largest constellations of communication and remote sensing satellites covering the Asia Pacific.

Bali said although India sticks to civilian orientation to its space programme, the changing regional and global realities required it to develop military assets in space and on ground as an emerging regional and global power.

He said there was a need for a dedicated military space programme with adequate resources at its disposal because of, "the changing realities in our neighbourhood".

Stay updated on the go with The Daily Star News App. Click here to download it for your device.